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Submarine was close to trawler before it sank
Western Morning News
23rd January 2004
Fishing leaders last night called for a Dutch submarine to be ordered back into port to end speculation over what rammed the French trawler Bugaled Breizh off the Lizard a week ago.
French investigators in Brittany revealed yesterday that the submarine Dolfijn was "in close proximity" to the trawler before she sank with the loss of five lives.
Jim Portus, chief executive of the South West Fish Producers Organisation, said: "It should be brought home to clear the air and then the job is done and a possible cause of the incident can be ruled out. The investigation can then move on."
He said the Royal Navy, which was in charge of an international naval exercise in the area, should end growing speculation.
Initial reports had suggested that the nearest naval vessel to the point where the tragedy occurred was as far as 60 kilometres away.
But yesterday French authorities revealed that the submarine Dolfijn was sailing on the surface north east of the collision point, although they have not said just how close.
Two other submarines were also in the vicinity, the Royal Navy's Torbay and a German U-boat, which has since returned to Plymouth unscathed.
Suspicions are rife among both the Breton and Newlyn fishing communities that the Dutch submarine, which was closest, may have collided with the Bugaled Breizh.
But Deputy Maritime Prefect, Bernard Massoneau, said: "If this vessel was responsible, given the force of the impact on the wreck of the Bugaled Breizh, it would have been forced to return to port and damage to its hull would not have remained unnoticed."
Monsieur Massoneau said he still believed a container ship was the most likely culprit.
Skipper of the Bugaled Breizh, Michel Douce said: "If the Navy, in which I have total confidence, was in any doubt, it would not have taken us aboard the Andromede minesweeper to inspect the boat."
In an interview with French newspaper Le Parisien, Monsieur Douce, 49, spoke of his five lost crew members.
"They were more than just workmates, they were good friends, my boys.
"The fathers, mothers, wives and children of my crew are distraught with grief."
Monsieur Douce, who went to sea at the age of 15, continued: "I am heartbroken. The faces of my crewmen haunt me. We don't know anything about the ship but one thing is certain: it exists.
"I have seen ships sailing so fast it has frightened me.
"I saw pictures of my boat on the seabed in 90 metres of water.
"The wheel was at zero degrees which shows that they didn't have time to take any evasive action."
A team of Marine Gendarmes investigating the accident are to view satellite pictures in a bid to trace ships in the area.
The Dutch submarine has not yet returned to port and fishing leaders believe it should do so quickly so it can be ruled out.
Cornwall coroner Dr Emma Carlyon yesterday opened and adjourned inquests into the deaths of fishermen Pascal Lucien Le Floch, 49, and Yves Marie Gloaguen, 44, whose bodies were recovered.
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